rj.theshadowrising-第212部分

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　　　　　　　〃Did　he　seem　to　be。。。　injured？〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；〃　she　said　slowly。　〃He　staggered；　and　he　was　clutching　something　to　his　chest　under　his　coat。　A　bandage；　maybe。　Mistress　Congar　is　in　the　kitchen；　but　from　what　I　heard　he　all　but　ran　over　her。　How　did　you　know？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　dreamed　it。〃　Her　tilted　eyes　took　on　a　dangerous　light。　She　must　not　be　thinking。　She　knew　about　the　wolf　dream；　did　she　expect　him　to　explain　where　Bain　and　Chiad　could　hear；　not　to　mention　Aram　and　Loial？　Well；　maybe　not　Loial；　he　was　so　absorbed　in　his　notes　he　would　not　have　noticed　a　flock　of　sheep　herded　into　the　mon　room。　〃Gaul？〃
　　　　　　　〃Mistress　Congar　gave　him　something　to　make　him　sleep；　and　a　poultice　for　his　leg。　When　the　Aes　Sedai　wake　in　the　morning；　one　of　them　will　Heal　him；　if　they　think　it　serious　enough。〃
　　　　　　　〃e　sit　down；　Faile。　I　want　you　to　do　something　for　me。〃　She　eyed　him　suspiciously；　but　let　him　lead　her　to　a　chair。　When　they　were　seated；　he　leaned　across　the　table；　trying　to　make　his　voice　serious；　but　not　urgent。　On　no　account　urgent。　〃I　want　you　to　take　a　message　to　Caemlyn　for　me。　On　the　way；　you　can　let　Watch　Hill　know　how　things　are　here。　Actually；　it　might　be　best　if　they　crossed　the　Taren　until　it's　all　done。〃　That　had　sounded　properly　casual；　just　a　bit　thrown　in　on　the　spur　of　the　moment。　〃I　want　you　to　ask　Queen　Morgase　to　send　us　some　of　the　Queen's　Guards。　I　know　it's　a　dangerous　thing　I'm　asking；　but　Bain　and　Chiad　can　get　you　to　Taren　Ferry　safely；　and　the　ferry　is　still　there。〃　Chiad　stood　up；　staring　at　him　anxiously。　Why　was　she　anxious？
　　　　　　　〃You　will　not　have　to　leave　him；〃　Faile　told　her。　After　a　moment　the　Aiel　woman　nodded　and　resumed　her　seat　beside　Gaul。　Chiad　and　Gaul？　They　were　blood　enemies。　Nothing　was　making　sense　tonight。
　　　　　　　〃It　is　a　long　way　to　Caemlyn；〃　Faile　went　on　quietly。　Her　eyes　very　intent　on　his；　but　her　face　could　have　been　wood　for　all　the　expression　it　had。　〃Weeks　to　ride　there；　plus　however　long　it　might　take　to　reach　and　convince　Morgase；　then　more　weeks　to　return　with　the　Queen's　Guards。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　can　hold　out　that　long　easily；〃　he　told　her。　Burn　me　if　I　can't　lie　as　well　as　Mat！　〃Luc　was　right。　There　can't　be　more　than　a　thousand　Trollocs　still　out　there。　The　dream？〃　She　nodded。　At　last　she　understood。　〃We　can　hold　out　here　for　a　very　long　time；　but　in　the　meanwhile　they'll　be　burning　crops　and　doing　the　Light　knows　what。　We'll　need　the　Queen's　Guards　to　rid　ourselves　of　them　pletely。　You　are　the　logical　one　to　go。　You　know　how　to　talk　to　a　queen；　being　a　queen's　cousin　and　all。　Faile；　I　know　what　I'm　asking　is　dangerous。。。〃　Not　as　dangerous　as　staying。　〃。　。　。　But　once　you　reach　the　ferry；　you'll　be　on　your　way。〃
　　　　　　　He　did　not　hear　Loial　approach　until　the　Ogier　laid　his　book　of　notes　down　in　front　of　Faile。　〃I　could　not　help　overhearing；　Faile。　If　you　are　going　to　Caemlyn；　would　you　carry　this？　To　keep　it　safe　until　I　can　e　for　it。〃　Squaring　the　volume　up　almost　tenderly；　he　added；　〃They　print　many　very　fine　books　in　Caemlyn。　Forgive　me　for　interrupting；　Perrin。〃　But　his　teacup　eyes　were　on　her；　not　him。　〃Faile　suits　you。　You　should　fly　free；　like　a　falcon。〃　Patting　Perrin　on　the　shoulder；　he　murmured　in　a　deep　rumble；　〃She　should　fly　free；〃　then　made　his　way　to　his　pallet　and　lay　down　facing　the　wall。
　　　　　　　〃He　is　very　tired；〃　Perrin　said；　attempting　to　make　it　seem　just　a　ment。　The　fool　Ogier　could　ruin　everything！　〃If　you　leave　tonight；　you　can　be　at　Watch　Hill　by　daybreak。　You'll　have　to　swing　to　the　east；　the　Trollocs　are　fewer　there。　This　is　very　important　to　me。。。　to　Emond's　Field；　I　mean。　Will　you　do　it？〃
　　　　　　　She　stared　at　him　silently　for　so　long　he　wondered　if　she　meant　to　answer。　Her　eyes　seemed　to　glisten。　Then　she　got　up　and　sat　down　on　his　lap；　stroking　his　beard。　〃This　needs　trimming。　I　like　it　on　you；　but　I　do　not　want　it　down　to　your　chest。〃
　　　　　　　He　came　close　to　gaping。　She　often　changed　the　subject　on　him；　but　usually　when　she　was　losing　an　argument。　〃Faile；　please。　I　need　you　to　carry　this　message　to　Caemlyn。〃
　　　　　　　Her　hand　tightened　in　his　beard；　and　her　head　swung　as　if　she　were　arguing　with　herself　inside　her　head。　〃I　will　go；〃　she　said　at　last；　〃but　I　want　a　price。　You　always　make　me　do　things　the　hard　way。　In　Saldaea；　I　would　not　have　to　be　the　one　who　asked。　My　price　is。。。　a　wedding。　I　want　to　marry　you；〃　she　finished　up　in　a　rush。
　　　　　　　〃And　I　you。〃　He　smiled。　〃We　can　say　the　betrothal　vows　in　front　of　the　Women's　Circle　tonight；　but　I'm　afraid　the　wedding　has　to　wait　a　year。　When　you　e　back　from　Caemlyn　…〃　She　very　nearly　yanked　a　handful　of　beard　out　of　his　chin。
　　　　　　　〃I　will　have　you　for　husband　tonight；〃　she　said　in　fierce；　low　tones；　〃or　I　will　not　go　until　I　do！〃
　　　　　　　〃If　there　was　any　way；　I　would；〃　he　protested。　〃Daise　Congar　would　crack　my　head　if　I　wanted　to　go　against　custom。　For　the　love　of　the　Light；　Faile；　just　carry　the　message；　and　I'll　wed　you　the　very　first　day　I　can。〃　He　would。　If　that　day　ever　came。
　　　　　　　Suddenly　she　was　very　intent　on　his　beard；　smoothing　it　and　not　meeting　his　eyes。　She　started　speaking　slowly　but　picked　up　speed　like　a　runaway　horse。　〃I。。。　just　happened　to　mention。。。　。　in　passing。。。　I　just　mentioned　to　Mistress　al'Vere　how　we　had　been　traveling　together　…　I　don't　know　how　it　came　up　…　and　she　said　…　and　Mistress　Congar　agreed　with　her　…　not　that　I　talked　to　everybody！　…　she　said　that　we　probably　…　certainly　…　could　be　considered　betrothed　already　under　your　customs；　and　the　year　is　just　to　make　sure　you　really　do　get　on　well　together　…　which　we　do；　as　anyone　can　see　…　and　here　I　am　being　as　forward　as　some　Domani　hussy　or　one　of　those　Tairen　galls　…　if　you　ever　even　think　of　Berelain　…　oh；　Light；　I'm　babbling；　and　you　won't　even　…〃
　　　　　　　He　cut　her　off　by　kissing　her　as　thoroughly　as　he　knew　how。
　　　　　　　〃Will　you　marry　me？〃　he　said　breathlessly　when　he　was　done。　〃Tonight？〃　He　must　have　done　ever　better　with　the　kiss　than　he　thought；　he　had　to　repeat　himself　six　times；　with　her　giggling　against　his　throat　and　demanding　he　say　it　again；　before　she　seemed　to　understand。
　　　　　　　Which　was　how　he　found　himself　not　half　an　hour　later　kneeling　opposite　her　in　the　mon　room；　in　front　of　Daise　Congar　and　Marin　al'Vere；　Alsbet　Luhhan　and　Neysa　Ayellin　and　all　the　Women's　Circle。　Loial　had　been　roused　to　stand　for　him　with　Aram；　and　Bain　and　Chiad　stood　for　Faile。　There　were　no　flowers　to　put　in　her　hair　or　his；　but　Bain；　guided　by　Marin；　tucked　a　long　red　wedding　ribbon　around　his　neck；　and　Loial　threaded　another　through　Faile's　dark　hair；　his　thick　fingers　surprisingly　deft　and　gentle。　Perrin's　hands　trembled　as　he　cupped　hers。
　　　　　　　〃I；　Perrin　Aybara；　do　pledge　you　my　love；　Faile　Bashere；　for　as　long　as　I　live。〃　For　as　long　as　I　live　and　after。　〃What　I　possess　in　this　world　I　give　to　you。〃　A　horse；　an　axe；　a　bow。　A　hammer。　Not　much　to　gift　a　bride。　I　give　you　life；　my　love。　It's　all　I　have。　〃I　will　keep　and　hold　you；　succor　and　tend　you；　protect　and　shelter　you；　for　all　the　days　of　my　life。〃　I　can't　keep　you；　the　only　way　I　can　protect　you　is　to　send　you　away。　〃I　am　yours；　always　and　forever。〃　By　the　time　he　finished；　his　hands　were　shaking　visibly。
　　　　　　　Faile　moved　her　hands　to　hold　his。　〃I；　Zarine　Bashere。。。〃　That　was　a　surprise；　she　hated　that　name。　〃。。。do　pledge　you　my　love；　Perrin　Aybara。。。〃　Her　hands　never　trembled　at　all。


Chapter　54
（Female　Silhouettes）
Into　the　Palace

　　　　　　　Seated　on　the　tail　end　of　the　high…wheeled　cart　trundling　up　a　twisty　Tanchican　street　behind　four　sweating　men；　Elayne　scowled　through　the　grimy　veil　that　covered　her　from　eyes　to　chin；　kicking　her　bare　feet　irritably。　Every　lurch　over　the　paving　stones　jarred　her　to　the　top　of　her　skull；　the　more　she　braced　herself　by　holding　on　to　the　rough　wooden　planks　of　the　cart　bed；　the　worse　it　was。　It　did　not　seem　to　bother　Nynaeve　much；　she　jounced　about　like　Elayne；　but；　frowning　slightly　and　eyes　looking　inward；　she　appeared　hardly　aware　of　it。　And　Egeanin；　crowded　against　Nynaeve　on　the　other　side；　veiled　and　with　her　dark　hair　in　braids　to　her　shoulders；　rode　each　jolt　easily；　arms　folded。　Finally　Elayne　emulated　the　Seanchan　woman；　she　could　not　avoid　swaying　into　Nynaeve；　but　the　ride　no　longer　felt　as　if　her　lower　teeth　were　going　to　be　driven　through　the　upper。
　　　　　　　She　would　have　walked　gladly；　even　barefoot；　but　Bayle　Domon　had　said　it　would　not　look　right；　people　might　wonder　why　women　were　not　riding　when　there　was　plenty　of　room；　and　the　last　thing　they　wanted　was　anyone　thinking　about　them　twice。　Of　course　he　was　not　being　bounced　about　like　a　sack　of　turnips；　he　was　walking；　at　the　head　of　the　cart　with　ten　of　the　twenty　sailors　he　had　brought　along　for　escort。　More　would　seem　suspicious；　he　claimed。　She　suspected　he　would　not　have　had　so　many　if　not　for　her　and　the　other　two　women。
　　　　　　　The　cloudless　sky　still　stretched　gray　overhead；　though　first　light　had　crept　on　before　they　set　out；　the　streets　were　still　largely　empty；　and　silent　except　for　the　rumble　of　the　cart　and　the　creak　of　its　axle。　When　the　sun　topped　the　horizon　people　would　begin　to　venture　out；　but　now　the　few　she　saw　were　knots　of　men　in　baggy　trousers　and　dark　cylindrical　caps；　scuttling　along　with　the　furtive　air